National Parks and Wildlife Conservation Act, 1973 Preamble: Whereas it is expedient to make arrangement for the management of national parks, conservation of wildlife and their habitat, regulate hunting and to conserve, promote, develop, and make appropriate arrangements for and the use of places which are of special importance from the point of view of natural beauty and to maintain good manners and welfare of the general public, His Majesty King Birendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev enacted this Act on the advice and consent of the National Panchayat. 1. Short title, extent and commencement 5. Definitions 2. This Act may be called National Parks and Wildlife Conservation Act 1973. 3. This Act shall be applicable throughout the Kingdom of Nepal. 4. This Act shall come into force on such a date as prescribed by His Majesty s Government publishing a notice in the Nepal Gazette. 1 Unless the subject or context requires, in this Act: a. National Park means an area set aside for the conservation, management and utilization of flora, fauna and scenery along with the natural environment. b. Strict Nature Reserve means an area of ecological importance or important otherwise and set aside for scientific studies. c. Wildlife Reserve means an area set aside for the conservation and management of wildlife resources and their habitats. d. Hunting Reserve means an area set aside for the management of wildlife for allowing hunters to hunt them. e. Reserve means a strict nature reserve, wildlife reserve and hunting reserve. (e1) Conservation Area means an area to be managed according to an integrated plan for the conservation of natural environment and balanced utilization of natural resources. (e2) Buffer Zone means a peripheral area of a national park or reserve prescribed under the section 3a in order to provide facilities to use forest resources on a regular and beneficial basis for the local people. a. Wildlife means mammals, birds, reptiles, piscis, amphibians and insects of any kind other than domesticated and the term includes the eggs of oviparous creatures. (g) Arms means any type of gun, pistol or similar other firearms, bow, arrow, spear, trap, snare, booby-trap, catapult or any other weapons that may cause injury. (h) Hunting means the act of chasing, capturing, torturing or killing of any wildlife by any means or attempting to do so or extracting any part of its body or eliminating it or taking out or destroying its eggs or taking out, destroying or disturbing its nest. (i) Trophy means the living or dead body of any wildlife or any such part (j) thereof, which can be identified. Authorized Officer means an officer prescribed by His Majesty s Government by publishing a notice in the Nepal Gazette. (j1) Warden means a person appointed by His Majesty s Government for the conservation and management of national park, reserve, conservation area or buffer zone. (k) Prescribed or as prescribed means prescribed or in the manner prescribed 1 This Act came into force on 2030.6.4 after publishing a notice in the Nepal Gazette.
in the rules framed under this Act. 3. His Majesty s Government may declare national park, reserves or conservation area 1. His Majesty s Government may, if it deems necessary, declare an area as a national park or reserve or conservation area by publishing a notice in the Nepal Gazette and indicating the boundary thereof. 2. His Majesty s Government may abandon or transfer the ownership or alter the boundaries of an area, which has once been declared as a national park, reserve or conservation area by publishing a notification in the Nepal Gazette. 3a. Buffer zone may be declared (1) His Majesty s Government may declare any peripheral area of a national park or reserve as a buffer zone by publishing notification in the Nepal Gazette and indicating the boundaries thereof. (2) His Majesty s Government may, abandon or transfer the ownership, or alter the boundaries of the buffer zone prescribed under the sub-section (1) by publishing notification in the Nepal Gazette. 3b. Management and conservation of the buffer zone The Warden shall carry out works relating to the management and conservation of the buffer Zone. Provided that ownership of the land of the local people is not affected while managing and conserving the area. 3c. Compensation may be given In case any house or land of a local resident located inside a buffer zone falls within the existing natural boundary of a national park or reserve as a result of flood or landslide, and if such inhabitant s house is destroyed, the concerned national park or reserve, on the recommendation of the user committee formed under section 16c, shall pay a reasonable compensation to him from the amount allocated for community development under section 25a. 4. Restriction on entry into national park 1. No person shall be allowed to enter into a national park or reserve without obtaining an entry permit as prescribed or a written permission from the authorized official. Provided that this sub-section shall not be applied to government employees who are on deputation or to persons who have the privilege of right-of-way inside the national park or reserve. (2) The design, kind, fee and other conditions of the entry permit mentioned in the sub-section (1) shall be as prescribed.
5. Prohibited actions within national park or reserve No person shall carry out the following actions within national park or reserve without obtaining a written permission from the authorized official: a. To hunt wildlife, b. To construct or possess house, hut, shelter, or any other structures of any material, c. To occupy, clear, reclaim or cultivate any part or grow or harvest any crop, d. To graze any domestic animal or bird, or feed water to it, e. To cut, clear, fell, remove or block trees, plants, bushes or any other forest resources, or do anything to cause any forest resources dry, or set it on fire, or otherwise harm or damage it, f. To dig mines, stones or remove any mineral, stone, boulder, earth or any other similar material, g. To cause damage to forest resources or wildlife or birds or any land, h. To carry arms, ammunition or poison, or use them, i. To take any domestic or any other kind of animal or trophy by persons other than government employees on deputation or visitors of the public paths within the national park or reserve, and j. To block, divert any river or stream flowing through national park or reserve, or any other source of water, or use any harmful or explosive materials therein. 1. Operation of services within national park or reserve 2. His Majesty s Government may, in the utmost interest of the national park, reserve or conservation area, make arrangements for operating hotels, lodges, public transport services or similar other services or facilities by itself or through other parties by entering into a contract by following the prescribed procedure. 3. No person shall operate services or facilities of any kind within the national park, reserve or conservation area without entering into a contract under the sub-section (1). 4. Repealed 5. Repealed 6. Personal liability to enter into national park or reserve 7. Entering into a national park or reserve shall be one s own liability. 8. In case any person dies or sustains any injury, loss or damage within the national park or reserve, His Majesty s Government shall not be liable to pay any compensation for such death, injury, loss or damage. 9. Protected wildlife The wildlife mentioned in Schedule-1 of this Act shall be considered as the protected wildlife and their hunting is prohibited. Provided that: a. A rogue wild elephant, a man-eater tiger and wildlife that suffers from disease or have become disabled and may not survive, shall be killed or captured on the order of the prescribed officer. b. In case it is deemed necessary to kill wildlife, which come out of the forested area and cause considerable loss to human beings or to domestic birds and animals, they may be killed, captured or chased on the order of the prescribed officer.
1. Prohibition to hunt without a license 2. No person shall be permitted to hunt wildlife without obtaining a license. Provided that there is no need to obtain license for hunting the prescribed wildlife. 1. Any person who is desirous to obtain a license under the sub-section (1) shall submit an application form to the prescribed officer as prescribed and, if such an application is received, the prescribed officer shall, after collecting the prescribed fees, issue a license in the prescribed model and type to hunt wildlife. 2. The person who obtains license under sub-section (2) shall hunt in accordance with the prescribed terms and conditions. 3. The prescribed officer may refuse to issue a license under sub-section (2) with or without giving any reason. 12. Fixation of annual quota for hunting The prescribed officer shall determine the annual quota of wildlife that may be hunted inside the hunting reserve in a year on the basis of wildlife censuses conducted from time to time. 13. His Majesty s Government may cancel license His Majesty s Government may, if it deems necessary, cancel the license issued under section 11 at any time with or without giving any reason. 1. Prohibited period for hunting His Majesty s Government may prescribe hunting prohibited period and the area by publishing a notice in the Nepal Gazette. 1. Obtaining license for the collection of specimen 2. No person shall be allowed to collect any specimen from any national park, reserve or any other wildlife habitat for scientific research without obtaining a license. 3. Any person who is desirous to obtain a license under sub-section (1) shall have to submit an application to the prescribed officer in a prescribed form. 4. If an application is received in accordance with the sub-section (2), the prescribed officer may issue a license to the applicant by collecting the prescribed fee, to hunt any wildlife other than those mentioned in schedule 1 or collect any insect, bacteria, fish or any natural product subject to the fulfillment of the prescribed conditions.
5. Management of National Park and Reserve The prescribed officer may, if he deems necessary for the proper management of a national park or reserve, hunt, remove any natural resources or perform any other necessary activities inside the national park or reserve. 16a. Forest products and other services could be provided The prescribed officer may provide prescribed forest products or other services by collecting prescribed fees inside a national park or reserve. 16b. Management of conservation area His Majesty s Government may, by publishing a notification in the Nepal Gazette, entrust the management of any conservation area declared under the sub-section (1) of the section 3 to any institution established with the objective of conserving nature and natural resources for the period prescribed in such notification. 16c. User committee 1. The warden, in co-ordination with local authorities, may form a user committee for the management of fallen trees, dry wood, firewood and grass in a national park, reserve, conservation area or buffer zone. 2. Other rights, duties and responsibilities of the user committee formed under sub-section (1) shall be as prescribed. 17. Trophy will have to be produced before the licensing authority 1. Any person who secures a trophy under the license obtained by him shall have to produce it before the licensing authority or the officer designated by him within 24 hours excluding the time required for traveling. 2. The licensing authority shall maintain records of the trophies produced before him under subsection (1) and hand over the whole body or part of such wildlife to the person who has submitted it before him along with a certificate in the prescribed form if the authority is satisfied that the trophy has been secured in accordance with the license. Provided that if the license has been issued on the condition that the whole body or part of the wildlife that was to be hunted should be owned by His Majesty s Government, the condition shall apply accordingly. 18. Prohibition to possess trophies without a certificate 1. Any person, who has secured trophies prior to the implementation of this Act, shall produce such trophies before the prescribed officer within the prescribed time limit and obtain a certificate in the prescribed form. 2. His Majesty s Government may seize any trophy that is possessed without obtaining a certificate under the sub-section (1) or the sub-section (2) of the section 17.
19. Prohibition to sell, supply or conduct trade in trophies without license 1. No person shall be permitted to sell or supply trophies, or hand over his title in any manner or conduct trade in trophies without obtaining a license from the prescribed authority. 2. Any person who has acquired tittle to any trophy through purchase or transfer from a person who has obtained a license according to section (1) shall register such trophy with the prescribed authority within the prescribed time limit and obtain a certificate of ownership of the trophy. 3. Recommendation to be obtained for export or import of trophies Any person desirous to export any trophy from the Kingdom of Nepal or import in accordance with the prevailing Nepalese law shall obtain a written recommendation of His Majesty s Government, Ministry of Forests and Soil Conservation for such export or import. 1. Necessary action can be taken for self-defense 2. To save one s life or any other person or domestic animal from the actual and sudden attack of any wildlife, and when one is left with no option but to use arms or take any other measures against such wildlife, he may do so. If any wildlife is killed or wounded in such action, it is not considered a crime committed under this Act. 3. In case any wildlife is killed or wounded in accordance with sub-section (1), a notice will have to be given to the prescribed officer within 24 hours of such action excluding the time required for traveling. 4. The privilege mentioned in the sub-section (1) shall not be available to the persons, who has been acting in contravention of this act or the rules framed under the act. 5. Prohibition to damage boundary markers No person shall destroy, dismantle, disfigure, remove or otherwise obstruct the boundaries, enclosure, wall, signboards or notices of a national park, reserve, conservation area or buffer zone. 1. Power to inspect and search The prescribed officer may, after securing a warrant from the prescribed officer enter into and search the house, compound, land or all types of vehicle belonging to a person at any time or to arrest him if there is a reasonable ground to believe that the person has done any action in contravention of this Act, and it becomes necessary to collect the evidence or proof of such action. Provided that there is a possibility that it may take some time to obtain a warrant to enter into and search any house, compound, land or vehicle and that the offender is likely to abscond or suppress evidence of his offense during the time, the prescribed officer may enter into and search such house, compound, land or vehicle at any time after duly preparing written records of such matters.
Explanation: Officers below the rank as specified in section 30 shall not enter into and search any house, compound, land or vehicle without a warrant under this section. In the circumstances when the offender is not arrested or evidence is not recovered in the course of such an entry or search without a warrant, the officer making such an entry or conducting search shall issue a certificate of such entry or search to the concerned person, and also forward a written notice to the prescribed officer within 15 days of such entry and search, indicting the reasons for doing so. 1. Power to arrest without warrant 2. In case there are reasonable grounds to believe that the offender under this Act is likely to escape, the authorized officer may arrest him without a warrant. The arrested person shall be produced before the adjudicating authority for legal action within 24 hours excluding the time required for traveling. 3. In case any offender, or any of his accomplices resort to violence in an attempt to free him or resist his arrest or struggles after his arrest by the authorized officer under the sub-section (1), or if a circumstance arises when the offender tries to escape or his accomplices tries to free him or in case the life of the person making the arrest appears to be in danger, or in case he has no alternative but to resort to the use of arms, he may open fire aiming, as far as possible, below the knee, and if any person dies as a result of such firing, it shall not be deemed to be an offense. 4. While arresting an offender or detaining him after his arrest by the authorized officer under the sub-section (1), in case any offender or any of his accomplices resorts to violence in an attempt to free himself or obstruct the arrest or if a circumstance arises when the offender is about to escape or to be freed by his accomplices or in case the life of the person making the arrest appears to be in danger, or in case he has no choice but to resort to the use of arms, he may open fire aiming, as far as possible, below the knee, and if any person dies as a result of such firing, it shall not be deemed an offense. 5. Reward shall be given 6. Any person who furnishes information that leads to the arrest of a poacher who has killed or injured rhinoceros, tiger, elephant, musk deer, clouded leopard, snow leopard or bison, may be rewarded with an amount of up to fifty thousand rupees. Any person who furnishes information about a poacher who has killed or injured any other protected animals, other than the wildlife mentioned above, and leads to his arrest may be rewarded with an amount of up to twenty five thousand rupees. 7. Any person who furnishes information about a person, who is in unlawful possession of trophies and if the information leads to the arrest of the illegal possessor, or who captures such person may be rewarded fifty percent of the amount collected from the auction of the trophies if such trophies are auctioned. In case the trophies cannot be sold by auction from the point of view of wildlife conservation, an amount of up to ten thousand rupees could be rewarded, considering the condition, importance and quantity of such trophies. 8. Any person who furnishes information about an offense under this Act other than those mentioned in sub-section (1) and (2), which leads to the arrest of the accused may be rewarded with up to one thousand rupees. 25a. May be expended for the community development Up to thirty to fifty percent of the amounts earned by a national park, reserve or conservation area may be expended, in co-ordination with the local authorities for community development of local people. 1. Punishment
(1) Any person who illegally kills or injures, sells, purchases or transfers or obtains rhinoceros, tiger, elephant, musk deer, clouded leopard, snow leopard or bison, or keeps, purchases or sells rhinoceros horn or musk-pods or the fur of snow leopard as well as trophies of any other protected wildlife, shall be punished with a fine ranging from fifty to one hundred thousand rupees or an imprisonment ranging from five years to fifteen years or both. (2) Any person who kills or injures any other protected wildlife other than those mentioned in sub-section (1) shall be punished with a fine ranging from forty to seventy five thousand rupees, or face an imprisonment ranging from one year to ten years or both. 1. Any person who hunts and kills or injures wildlife other than birds and fish inside a national park, strict nature reserve or wildlife reserve without obtaining a license shall be punished with a fine ranging from one thousand rupees and ten thousand rupees or face imprisonment ranging from six months to two years or both. 2. Any person who hunts and kills or injures protected birds shall be punished with a fine ranging from five hundred rupees and ten thousand rupees or face imprisonment ranging from three months and two years or both. 3. Any person who hunts and kills or injures birds other than protected birds inside a national park, strict nature reserve or wildlife reserve without obtaining a license shall be punished with a fine ranging from two hundred rupees and ten thousand rupees, or face imprisonment ranging between three months and two years or both. 4. Any person who commits an offense other than those mentioned in sub-section (1), (2), (3), (4) and (5), in contravention of this Act or the rules framed under the Act shall be punished with a fine up to ten thousand rupees or two years imprisonment or both depending on the nature of the case. 5. Punishment for accomplices In case any person who knowingly helps any person in committing any offense punishable under this Act, such accomplice shall be punished with half the punishment to be given to the actual offender. Provided that a person who helps in committing any offense related to rhinoceros, tiger, musk deer or elephant shall be punished with the penalty equivalent to the one awarded to the criminal. 1. Power to confiscate In case any person accused of breaking this act or the rules framed under this act is convicted, the adjudicating authority may confiscate the trophies, weapons, means of transport and other materials connected with such offense. Provide that the seized hunting dog may be killed on the order of adjudicating official before the case is disposed of. 1. His Majesty s Government to be plaintiff His Majesty s Government shall be the plaintiff in the cases under this Act. 1. Investigation and filling of cases 2. All investigations of offenses under this Act shall be conducted by a ranger or an employee up to the rank of Subedar who is connected with forest and wildlife management or by an employee at least of the rank of Non-Gazetted Class First or by an employee at least with
the rank of sub-inspector in the Police force. Upon the completion of such investigations, he shall file the case before the adjudicating official in the name of national park office or reserve office or wildlife conservation office or forest office or any other office discharging the functions relating to forests. 3. While filling a case before the adjudicating authority under the sub-section (1), the concerned officer may consult a Government lawyer. 4. Power to hear cases 5. The prescribed court or official shall have the power to hear and dispose of cases under this Act. 6. While disposing of cases under sub-section (1), the prescribed court or official shall follow the same procedure adopted by the court with original jurisdiction. 7. An appeal may be filed before an Appellate Court against the decision made or order issued by the court or official prescribed under sub-section (1) within 35 days after such decision is made or order is issued. 8. Power of His Majesty s Government to amend in schedule His Majesty s Government may, by publishing a notification in the Nepal Gazette make amendment in the schedules of this Act. 1. Power to frame rules His Majesty s Government may frame rules to fulfil the objectives of this Act. 1. Repeal and saving 2. The Wildlife Conservation Act, 1976 has been repealed. 3. In matters written in this Act or the Rules framed hereunder, actions shall be taken accordingly, and in other matters, action shall be taken in accordance with the prevailing laws of Nepal.
Schedule-1 (Relating to Section 10) Protected Wildlife Mammals Assamese Monkey Pangolin Hispid Hare Gangetic Dolphin Grey Wolf Himalayan Brown Beer Red Panda Spotted Lingsang Striped Hyena Leopard Cat Lynx Clouded Leopard Tiger Snow Leopard Wild Elephant One-horned rhinoceros Pygmy Hog Musk Deer Swamp Deer Gaur Wild Yak Wild Buffalo Great Tibetan Sheep Tibetan Antelope Black buck Four-horned Antelope Macaca assamensis Manis crasscaudata and Manis pentadactyla Caprolagus hispidus Platanista gangetica Canis lupus Ursus arctos Ailurus fulgens Prionodon pardicolor Hyaena hyaena Felis (Prionailurus) bengalensis Lynx lynx Neofelis nebulosa Panthera tigris tigris Uncia uncia Elephas maximus Rhinoceros unicornis Sus salvanius Moschus chrysogaster Cervus duvaucelii Bos gaurus Bos grunniens (mutus) Bubalus arnee Ovis ammon hodgsonil Pantholops hodgsoni Antilope cervicapra Tetracerus quadricornis Birds Black Stork White Stork Sarus Crane Cheer Pheasant Impeyon pheasant Crimson-horned Pheasant Bengal Florican Lesser Florican Giant Hornbill Ciconia nigra Ciconia ciconia Grus antigone Catreus wallichii Lophophorus impejanus Tragopan satyra Houbaropsis bengalensis Eupodotis indica Buceros bicomis Reptiles Python Gharial Crocodile Golden Monitor Lizard Python molurus Gavialis gangeticus Varanus flavescens